Girona, May, 2016

Photo: quim puig

A city in bloom

The Darling Buds of May is the name of a novel from the 1950s, but it has since passed into the language as a common expression. And with good reason. If there is ever a time associated with flowers, naturally, it is spring. For a few weeks before the hot weather sets in, the Catalan countryside is blanketed in wild flowers. But what about the urban areas?

Not to be outdone by the rural parts of the country, Girona has its own solution: a week-long festival devoted to flowers that turns the city into a floral tapestry of colour. Temps de Flors is celebrating its 61st edition this year, between May 7 and 15. As every year, the city's streets, patios, courtyards and landmarks will be festooned with flower arrangements to rival the very best that nature has to offer (see image).

Yet, the Temps de Flors festival is more than just about making the city streets look pretty. It is also the focus for a series of cultural activities, including concerts, exhibitions and gastronomy events, all open to the public and all aimed at showing off what the city has to offer at this special time of year. If there was ever a time to visit Catalonia's northern capital, you could do worse than choose the second week of May.